Today we’d like to introduce you to Anni Bacchus.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I am extremely lucky to have found a career that combines a lot of my passions and challenges me every day. From an early age, I have always known I wanted to tell stories in one way or another, which is why I studied Journalism. I moved to Atlanta from Germany when I was 20 and never planned on staying here. But after I graduated, I interned and eventually worked at Turner Broadcasting, where I was able to hone my creative skills and interviewing techniques, as well as create long-lasting professional and personal relationships that really laid the groundwork for the next decade of my career.
After that, I produced a local restaurant show for many years, which was incredibly satisfying, because it combined my two passions of storytelling and food. Today, I am super happy at Eclipse Creative where I get to be part of the production team for Magnolia Network’s “Homegrown”. It is a whole new adventure for me and allows me to create the type of content I can be really proud of and that makes people feel good, both the viewer and the crew that produces it. Because at the end of the day, that is what matters most. I truly believe that emotional energy is contagious, so filling my life with meaningful projects and kindhearted people is on top of my priority list.
As a producer, I have the privilege to surround myself with the most talented and passionate people in the industry. The Atlanta TV and film industry is so impressive and there is nothing more satisfying than being on set with people that share your vision and bring their unique talents every day. Our production days can be very long, so it’s also important to work with people that you actually like and can have fun with.
I love the versatility and variety of working in television. It never gets boring! I constantly get to meet new people, work in different locations, wear many different hats and constantly evolve my skills.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Honestly, for the last 15 years, I have always followed my north star and never doubted my career choice. And that has made the journey pretty smooth overall. And I have had amazing mentors in my life that have supported me, pushed me when needed and always helped put things into perspective. So I am very grateful for that. However, and this is certainly not unique to my story, working in a field that is still very male-dominated can be intimidating, exhausting and infuriating at times. I, like so many other women in production, have come across my fair share of dismissive and rude comments, harassment and inappropriate behavior, and just unacceptable rhetoric.
I’m lucky that the majority of men I work with are incredible and so respectful, but some of the older generations, especially if they come from an old-school sales background, have made parts of this journey pretty miserable. So that is just unfortunate, and it was really tough at times to be dismissed or taken less seriously because I am a woman. But I strongly believe the industry as a whole is getting better about dealing with those issues and addressing them head-on. The women in production are so inspiring, creative and hard-working, and we deserve to be treated with the utmost respect.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I have a natural curiosity for people and their stories. As an extrovert, I love meeting new people and figuring out what makes them tick. I am endlessly fascinated by the unique experiences others have had in their lives, which is why I love working in the documentary side of the television world. Literally, everyone has a story worth telling, some small, some big and I get such excitement from being a part of that and being allowed into a person’s world. So that inquiring mind and love for people is definitely a big part of this job. But there are other factors that have also helped me get to where I am today. Being a Type A overthinker also helps in this industry. If you always worry that something will go wrong, you will have a plan B and C and D when something actually does fail. And then you can avoid a total shutdown or catastrophe. So a healthy level of anxiety actually comes in quite handy and works in my favor. I also think it’s super important to just have fun and not take yourself too seriously. At the end of the day, we make television and get to be creative. What’s not to love?
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Being part of a smaller production company is a dream, because I get to work with a variety of freelancers all over town, and that is truly one of my favorite parts of what I do. I love getting referrals from industry friends when they have collaborated with someone that impressed them. And I’m always inspired by meeting new people that also love this industry and want to create some beautiful content. So whether it’s someone with an amazing talent, a great story idea or other relevant skills, I am always excited to connect and figure out how to work together.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: anne.kuestenkind
- Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/annibacchus/
